Belgium and Iran played out a tense 0-0 draw in Group G at SoFi Stadium after Alireza Beiranvand produced a stream of saves and Belgium lost Nathan Ngoy to a late red card. Belgium controlled large spells and created the clearer openings, but Iran resisted heavy pressure and left with a point.
Belgium set the tempo from the opening minutes. Kevin De Bruyne drifted across the pitch and pulled Iran out of shape while Romelu Lukaku tried to stretch the defence with direct runs into the box. The early pressure almost brought a breakthrough when De Bruyne sent a dangerous ball across goal and Lukaku collided with Beiranvand as both attacked it.
The Belgium striker picked up a yellow card and never settled into the game. He chased long balls and fought for space but lacked rhythm in front of goal. Belgium kept the pressure on through Trossard and De Bruyne, yet Beiranvand stood firm. The Iran goalkeeper denied De Bruyne, reacted quickly to stop Trossard on the rebound and continued to frustrate Belgium throughout the contest.
Iran struggled to escape their own half in the opening stages but gradually settled. Mehdi Taremi thought he had produced the game’s defining moment when he curled home a superb effort, only for VAR to rule the strike out for offside.
Belgium continued to dominate possession after the break but struggled to move Iran’s defensive block. The attacks arrived in waves, though clear chances remained limited. Lukaku looked short of sharpness and Belgium lacked movement around him.
Beiranvand then took centre stage in the closing stages. He rushed off his line to stop substitute Matias Fernandez-Pardo, denied Maxim De Cuyper late on and controlled his penalty area under constant pressure.
Belgium’s task became harder when Nathan Ngoy received a straight red card for a last-man professional foul. Iran sensed an opening but neither side found a winner.
Belgium finished with control of the ball and little else. Iran finished with a point built on discipline, organisation and a goalkeeper who refused to bend.
